Improvement in embalming



UNITED STATES PATENT CEEIcE,

BENJAMIN F. LYFORD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT lN-EMBALMlNGa Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 11,2 22, dated January 24, 1871.

T0 aZZ whom, it may concern Be it known that I, Dr. BENJAMIN F. LY- FORD, of San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and Improved Solution and Process for Embalming; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

' The proper distillatory apparatus having been prepared, the manner of proceeding in order to obtain the embalming material is as follows: Take of nitrate of potassa, in powder, one equivalent, and add of carbo Zigm' pulm's a sufficient quantity to well divide the particle of potassa by trituration. Place this mixture within the distillatory apparatus, and by means of a funnel add of monohydrated sulphuric acid two equivalents. Adapt the proper receiver and apply heat, moderateat first and gradually increased as the material within thickens, until the whole is in a state of perfect fusion. Continue this distillation until one equivalent of monohydrated nitric acid is obtained, which place in .open retorts, and thereto carefully add pure granulated me tallic zinc until hydrogen is nojlonger disengaged. The reason for disengaging all the hydrogen possible from this solution is to enable it to reabsorb hydrogen when diffused throughout the subject that is to be embalmed. To the nitrate solution, in order to prevent crystallization, immediately add one equivalent of anhydrous alcohol,'mix well, transfer the solution to bottles, which stop tightly, and allow it to stand therein for several (lays. To thirty-two ounces of this fluid add two ounces of creosote, which imparts a fine, rich color,

much resembling that of blood. The liquid;

is now ready for use.

The process of embalming is as follows: If

death has resulted from a wound, or from adisease that has not injured the muscular structure of the arteries, make an incision into and expose the right femoral artery. Make an opening four inches below the branch of the profunda, and in this opening place and properly secure a tube three-sixteenths of an inch in diameter, to which fasten one end of a' flexible pipe, the other end of which is constructed with a stop-cock so arranged that it can be easily attached to a reversible pump.

Then place the subject in a receptacle having a strong glass top, and otherwise so constructed that the cover may be secured air-tight, through the side of which receptacle the inj ection-pipe passes, and also a separatue tube provided with a stop-cock, to which tube the pump is now attached, and by means of the pump a vacuum as nearly perfect as possible is formed within the receptacle. cock, detach and reverse the pump, connect it with the flexible injection-tube, and force into the arteries the liquid whose composition is abo ve described until tears are freely driven from the subjects eyes and small white elevations appear in all parts of the surface of the body. Close the cock of the injection-tube, and allow the subject thus to remain for the space of twelve hours, after which reverse the pump, open the cock, and withdraw from the subject all the solution possible with the use of twice the force with which the injection was accompanied. This process of alternate injec* tion and exhaustion should be repeated from one to six times, or even more, according to the amount of muscle to be acted upon, each injection subsequent to the first to be with drawn after four or six hours standing. This completed, the receptacle should be opened. Now make an incision from the center and upper part of the sternum downward along the line of the linae alba, dividing the muscles and peritoneum. Dissect back the muscles over the thoracic region, cut through the car tilages, and elevate the sternum. Next carefully remove the entire viscera, sponge out the abdomino-parietal cavity, remove the injection-tube, again readjust the lid of the re ceptacle, and once more exhaust the air within it. The subject should remain in cacao until the solution ceases to accumulate within the abdominal cavity. Then open the receptacle, sponge out the cavity, and apply arsenic plentifully over its inner surface. Next fill the cavity with C(MbO Zz'gni pulvis and Quercus alba palms, well mixed, readjust the sternumfsecure by suture, and close up the incision. Open the eyes,.make an incision through each sclerotic one-eighth of an inch above the upper margin of the iris, evacuate the humors, carefully wipe out the ball, place within it a small amount of arsenic, fill the ball with cotton, and place over it an artificial eye. Scatter arsenic in powder over the body, and ap Turn the V 77 Haring thus described my invention, what 2 mime ply bandages under the clothes or on those I I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters portions of the body not in sight. Color the Patent, is

lips, cheeks, and other parts of the face to 1. The solution for embalming, composed of life, and place the body in a dry room Within the ingredients herein described.

a casket, or other covering that will exclude 2. The process of compounding said solumoisture, until the body becomes hard. Subtion, as set forth.

jects thus prepared are perfect in color and '3. The process of cinbalming, as herein form, and at the distance of a few feet they specified.

look as though alive. They remain for years 13. F. LYFORD, M. D. in the exact condition in which the embalmer \Vitnesses: leaves them. SoLoN O. Kmuon,

CHAS. A. PETTIT. 

